Monday, June 27, 2016

Cape & Islands - Celebrate 4th of July 2016!

4th of July fireworks bursting over Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay, Nantucket Sound, even the Atlantic Ocean; Parades on Main Street, Band concerts on the green, Community picnics and some years even a tropical storm turned hurricane! - Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket offer it all.

For a posting of Cape Cod Fireworks and Parades, see our list at AllCapeCod.com
The sky will be ablaze with color starting June 24 as fireworks explode over Yarmouth south side beaches, as part of the week long Yarmouth Summer Celebration Kick-Off. Check the skies over The Wequasset Resort & Golf Club on Sunday June 26 for Cape and Islands United Way "Best Night of the Year" fireworks display. Fireworks take place in the town of Mashpee on July 1. The Mashpee event is part of an evening long community picnic with games, music by Bittersweet Band, and demonstrations starting at 5:00 PM at Mashpee High School. The fireworks start around 9:30pm but why wait until then - join the fun all evening (rain date is July 2). The town of Orleans will be launching fireworks over Rock Harbor on Saturday July 2. Those on Nantucket will be treated to a fireworks display over Jetties Beach on July 3; bring a radio and listen to synchronized music broadcast by 97.7 ACK-FM. Finally on July 4th, starting at dusk, fireworks displays will be over the water in Provincetown, Barnstable, Falmouth, Edgartown, East Harwich, and Plymouth. Grab a spot at the beach, go out on a boat, or find a high roof top deck and view it all! Please note: no funding means no fireworks displays this year in Bourne, Onset, and Marion.

Cape Cod parades are true hometown America events with scout troops, decorated kid's bikes, home-made floats pulled by parents, pets, firetrucks, antique cars, local civic groups, and marching bands - and best of all candy throwing! Don't miss the 4th of July parades in Bourne, Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis, Chatham, Sandwich, Provincetown, Edgartown - just to mention a few. For a real nautical flair, "head" to a boat parade in Hyannis Harbor, Shawme Pond in Sandwich, or the Star-Spangled Chatham Boat Parade in Oyster Pond. For a fairly complete listing - including parades being held the rest of the year - click here.

What's more American than baseball? Cape Cod & Martha's Vineyard are summer homes for some of the best baseball players from colleges all over the U.S.A. Cape League has 10 different teams, each with its own park in towns that spread from Wareham to Orleans. There are Cape Cod Baseball League games every day this Holiday weekend. Martha's Vineyard Sharks will be at home in the Shark Tank Friday through Sunday!

Patriotic music fills the air outdoors before the fireworks with the Barnstable Town Band on the Village Green in Hyannis. Sandiwch's own Brian Sances has completed his "Trails Across America Tour" in time to perform during the town's annual 4th of July Picnic in the Park. Joanna White & Company (JO&CO) will be entertaining the crowds at Hyannis' waterfront Aselton Park with a combination of covers and originals! The Bert Jackson Quartet takes the stage in Eastham for Monday's "Concerts on Windmill Green", playing favorite jazz, blues, world standards and original compositions. Dale and the Duds offer classic rock 'n' roll from the 50's and 60's at Shawme Pond Bandstand. Bring beach chairs or a blanket, a picnic supper, and plenty of bug spray to these outdoor musical events. For details on these, many more this weekend, and other summer concerts, visit CapeCodMusic.com

Looking for a quiet 4th of July? Of course, any day is a good day to spend relaxing at the Cape's wonderful beaches - pack a cooler, your sunscreen, boogie board, a sun umbrella (please purchase a "sandgrabber" at Christmas Tree Shops or Ocean State Job Lot for everyone's safety), some blankets and beach chairs!